I'm in Minnesota, and have a cousin in Arizona who can deliver the goods. I've done some browsing and it seems the best bet is Four Peaks, but this brewery doesn't seem to have a lot in bottles - it's a lot of 'brewed once' tap offerings. My cousin has offered to help me obtain some goods from AZ so, what should I be asking for? She's got a nearby liquor store with what is allegedly a HUGE selection.
San Tan Brewing is very good. They can their beer. Their Devil's Ale is good as are Supermonk ipa and Hopshock ipa.
I second SanTan. I recommend their Hefe, Sex Panther, Amber and the HopShock, all in cans. I also recommend Sonoran Brewing Co's White Chocolate Ale, which comes in bombers. Prescott Brewing also has a good amber and IPA, both of which come in cans. From Tucson, Nimbus bottles beers and has a few decent ones, although my favorite brewery down there is Dragoon, which does only growlers now. Up north, I know that Grand Canyon Brewing cans several beers and they too are decent, with the Black IPA standing out the most. As for 4 Peaks, I don't really get the hype. You can get the Kilt Lifter in bottles and it's okay, but all this talk about it being the best beer in the state is absurd. Finally, Marble Brewery definitely and Santa Fe Brewing (both from NM) presumably distributes to AZ, so I'd ask for some of their goods. Neither brews a bad beer, but the IPAs from both shine, SF Brewing's Black IPA is out now and is great.
Nimbus makes a few beers but the only ones I like are the Old Monkeyshine and their Oatmeal Stout. The rest you can forget about. I wish Dragoon bottled/canned their beer already! Also Borderlands in Tucson makes excellent beer but they don't bottle either.
Personally I would just be going for some stuff out of distro; Firestone Walker, Funkwerks, Alesmith, The Bruery, Oskar Blues, and a few others should be readily available in AZ but nor MN. Have her get you some FW Parabola in April or whenever it gets released too.
Do you have a favorite style? That would help narrow down the list. RE: Four Peaks- Yes they do have a lot of one offs that get high ratings but don't be afraid to try their bottles or cans. Their canned offerings such as Hop Knot and Sun Bru are quite good and cans are easier to ship.
I'm a fan of IPAs, they're generally my go-to, but I'm finding that sometimes the doubles and imperials can be a little on the fruity/juicy side for me. I always 'liked' stouts, but after recently having a bottle of Old Rasputin, I am eager to explore that style more.
For IPA's from AZ- Four Peaks, Lumberyard. From New Mexico, Marble, From Colorado, Ska, Odells, From California, Alesmith, Port, Coronado. For Stouts From CO. Oskar Blues, From CA. Alesmith, Port.
